最も
もっとも · mottomo · JLPT N4 · adverb
most
🏆 mottomo = motto (more) + mo: more and then some = most
もっと (motto) means more, and it is also an English word for a guiding slogan. Add も (mo, also/even) and more gets pushed to its limit: most. The kanji 最 is the same one in 最高 (saikou, the best) and 最後 (saigo, the last).
最 — top 冃 (hat/cover) + bottom 取 (take)
Originally a compound suggesting taking something even at risk, with 冃 (a covering, often confused with 日 sun) over 取 (to seize). Over time it shifted from 'to risk taking' to the superlative meaning 'most' or 'extremely', its modern use in Chinese.